Home warranty protects new homes against construction defects such as materials and labour, building envelope and structural defects. Note that different limits and coverage apply to each province.

As of February 1, 2014, every new home built in Alberta must have home warranty coverage. In addition, all new construction must be entered into the New Home Buyer Protection Public Registry. The New Home Buyer Protection Office is responsible for monitoring the provision of third-party home warranty insurance under the New Home Buyer Protection Act.

Please refer to their website for more information – http://homewarranty.alberta.ca/ and http://municipalaffairs.alberta.ca/alberta_home_warranties

Home warranty is mandatory in AB unless the project qualifies under the applicable exemptions. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba Home Warranty is not mandatory, however, most financial intuitions require third party warranty when homeowners are applying for a mortgage on a new construction homes.

The warranty remains in effect. There is no need to transfer the warranty into the new homeowners name.

Occupancy permit date or transfer of land title date, whichever is first.

To become a member, you must submit a completed application to us for review. There is a non-refundable application fee of $835 plus GST. Contact our office and speak to an Account Manager.

We underwrite single family homes and multi-family projects. We do not accept unconventional builds such as log homes, timber homes, straw-bale homes, container homes, etc. If you are unsure, please contact our office.

We could consider a home that is currently under construction depending on the situation. Please contact our office and speak to an Account Manager.

Multifamily projects and complex single family homes are subject to a satisfactory technical review. This review requires the builder to complete an application and submit it along with construction drawings, geotechnical report and building envelope details.

Upon enrollment, the project is added to the inspection list. The project will be reviewed by a Technical Advisor on a rotational schedule.

Key areas of interest and concern are envelope details at every phase of detailing, including the damp-proofing/waterproofing of the foundation. Drainage, geotechnical concerns, interfaces between envelope details and projections such as decks, windows, hose bibs, etc. Surface applied membranes of ALL types are of particular interest, be it peel and stick, deck membranes, or foundation mats. Additionally, the Technical Advisor will look for framing quality that will not adversely affect the fit and finish, sound HVAC design and compliance, potential conflicts between design elements of the home and good construction practices.

Final inspection is the one mandatory inspection that must be requested by the builder once the building has received an occupancy permit and it is cleaned and ready for occupancy. To book your final inspection, please contact your account representative.

1. If applicable, the technical review is forwarded to the technical advisor responsible for the territory in which the enrollment is located in.
2. Once enrolled, the home or project is added to the technical advisor’s rotational list. The technical advisor will make initial contact with the builder by phone to find out the start date. Usually, homes and projects are reviewed on a 6 week interval.
3. Key areas of interest and concern are envelope details at every phase, including the damp-proofing and waterproofing of the foundation, drainage, geotechnical concerns, interfaces between envelope details and projections such as decks, windows, hose bibs, etc. In addition, surface applied membranes of ALL types are of particular interest, be it peel and stick, deck membranes, or foundation mats.
4. Other areas that our technical advisor looks for is framing quality that will not adversely affect the fit and finish, sound HVAC design and compliance, potential conflicts between design elements of the home and good construction practices.
5. Final inspection is the one mandatory inspection that must be requested by the builder. Fit and finish items constitute the vast majority of claim items for warranty providers and builders.
6. Call in to arrange for the final inspection once the building has received an occupancy permit AND it is cleaned and ready for occupancy. Cleaning all surfaces is important – a common complaint is paint, glue, grout that has not been removed, followed by fine scratches on floors that only can be viewed when the surface is clean.

A final inspection must be arranged by the builder once the project has been received final occupancy from the municipality and the unit has been cleaned. To book your final inspection, please contact your account representative.

It is the builder/developer’s responsibility to complete the COP form with the homeowner prior to possession of the home. The purpose of the form is to confirm the homeowner’s information, occupancy dates and walk through details. The builder/developer has 30 days of occupancy to complete the form and send it back to our office for processing. Failure to do so can affect your builder terms including fees and security.

Step one
For AB – register the home online via the Builder Portal (MA Connect).
For MB, SK – please contact your Account Manager.

Step two
We will require additional details on your home; therefore please contact our office upon completion of the form. We will confirm the enrollment fee at that time.

Multi-family projects are subject to different requirements. Please contact our office to discuss it with an Account Manager.

In order to amend the property address after enrollment, our office will require written confirmation. Usually documentation from your municipality or your lawyer’s office will suffice. Please contact our office and speak to a Warranty Administrator.

We can definitely provide you with confirmation of warranty if the project is registered with Blanket/WBI. Please contact our office and speak to a Warranty Administrator.

Yes, we do. Please contact our office and speak to an Account Manager and we will put you in touch with an Insurance Professional.

In Alberta, before you can obtain a building permit, warranty is required to be in place for the unit. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, we strongly advise to enroll the unit prior to construction.

If it is deemed a warrantable defect under the policy, you as the builder is responsible for the warranty claim.

Congratulations on your recent purchase! Prior to possession of your new home, we require your builder / developer to complete the Certificate of Possession Form with you. The builder / developer is expected to provide us with a copy within 30 days of completion. Upon receipt, we will process the form and issue a home warranty policy and mail it to you. If you have been living in your home for more than 1 month and have not received your home warranty policy, please contact your builder / developer first.

If you have lost or misplaced your home warranty policy, you can order another copy from our office at a cost of $25 plus GST or an electronic copy of your policy can be emailed to you. Please contact our office and speak to a Warranty Administrator.

If there is a discrepancy in the warranty commencement date, we will require legal documentation to make the change. Please contact our office and speak to a Warranty Administrator.

Within a reasonable time after the discovery of a defect and before the expiry of the applicable home warranty insurance coverage under this Policy, the Owner must give written notice to:

1.  the Builder; and
2. The Warranty Provider